How to Restore Deleted Contacts on Android

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Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: August 29, 2023 Tested

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Unhiding Contacts

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Restoring from a Backup

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Using Recovery Software

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Tips

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Warnings

This wikiHow guide teaches you how to place deleted Android contacts back on your phone. You can restore them from your Google account provided they were backed up within the last thirty days. Otherwise, you'll need to use a third-party contact recovery program.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Unhiding Contacts

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It has an image of a person on it. You should find this app in the App Drawer, or on the Home Screen.
It's in the top-right corner of the screen. Doing so will invoke a pop-out menu.

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3
Tap Contacts to display. This option should be at the top of the pop-out menu.
- On some Androids, you may first have to tap Settings and then tap Contacts.
If it isn't, tap it, then look for your missing contacts. If "All Contacts" is checked, however, you'll need to proceed with restoring your deleted contacts.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Restoring from a Backup

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1
Open the Google Contacts site. It's located at https://contacts.google.com/. This method will only work if you synchronized your Android's contacts with Google.^{[1]
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- If you aren't signed into Google Contacts, you'll be prompted to enter your email address and/or password before continuing.
This tab is on the left side of the page.
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Click Undo changes. It's an option below the More heading. Doing so will invoke a pop-up window with different backup dates:
- 10 minutes ago
- 1 hour ago
- Yesterday
- 1 week ago
- Custom - Enter a number of days, hours, and/or minutes to revert back to.
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Click a backup time. This will set it as your recovery option.
- For example, selecting 1 hour ago will restore any contacts you deleted between now and sixty minutes ago.
- Keep in mind that any contacts you've added between now and the selected recovery point will be removed from your phone.
It's in the bottom-right corner of the "Undo changes" window. After a moment, your contacts will be restored.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Using Recovery Software

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It's at http://www.easeus.com/android-data-recovery-software/free-android-data-recovery.html. If you can't restore your deleted contacts from a Google backup, you'll need to use third-party software to attempt to salvage them.
This is the blue button in the middle of the page. Doing so will prompt the file to download to your computer.
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Install MobiSaver. This process will differ depending on your computer type:
- Windows - Double-click the downloaded setup file, follow the on-screen instructions, and click Finish when MobiSaver finishes installing.
- Mac - Open the setup file, then drag MobiSaver into your Applications folder.
To do so, simply double-click the MobiSaver icon, which resembles a blue box.
You'll use the USB charger cable that came with your phone or tablet to do so.
This will prompt MobiSaver to begin scanning your Android.
You can monitor the scan's progress by watching the bar at the top of the MobiSaver window.
It's in the upper-left area of the MobiSaver window.
If you want to recover every contact listed here, simply click the checkbox next to "Name" at the top of the page.
This button is in the bottom-right corner of the window. Doing so will bring up a window in which you select a save location for these contacts.
You should see your Android phone listed as a save location in this window, though you may need to scroll down to see it.
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Click OK. Your contacts will begin restoring to your Android.
- Don't unplug your computer or your Android until the restoration is complete.

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Tips

You should back up your Android every week or so, just to ensure that your information is as up-to-date as possible should you need to restore.

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Warnings

If possible, stop using your Android immediately when you realize you've lost your contacts. The less recent data you have on your Android, the more feasible recovery will be.

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